Sawtooth jog for multi-copy/multi-set output

ABSTRACT

A method of positioning copy or subsets for the easy insertion of tabs thereinto that includes creating a shingled boundary between subsets, with the top sheets of all subsets in the same position, but with the rest of each subset progressively offset so that the last page of the upper subset is significantly offset from the top sheet of the next subset in sawtooth fashion. As a result, the subsets can then be separated from one side more easily and tabs or other pages can be manually inserted with minimal difficulty.

The method disclosed herein relates manipulating multi-copy/multi-set documents. In particular, the disclosed method relates to ease of insertion of pages into multi-copy/multi-set output.

Stacking apparatus for forming offset stacks of paper is well known. Each stack comprises a plurality of equal sized sheets stacked in registration one on top of the other. A conveyor belt delivers sheets for stacking. After the apparatus forms one stack of sheets against a paper stop, the paper stop is displaced and a second paper stop is moved into position. The second paper stop is offset from the first paper stop. A second stack of sheets forms against the second paper stop. The second stack is offset from the first stack. The back of each stack is defined as the portion of each stack that is near the conveyor belt which delivers sheets which form and comprise the stack. The front of each stack is defined as a portion of each stack that is adjacent to the paper stop or stops which halt the travel of each sheet in the stack after the sheet is conveyed onto the stack.

An apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,625 to Henry T. Kremers et al. which regulates offsetting stacks of sheets reproduced from at least one original document. In one mode, successive stacks of uncollated sheet are offset from one another, and in another mode, offsetting of stacks of collated copy sheets is inhibited. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,035 a self-contained offset stacker tray assembly is operable in conjunction with the sheet output of a host printer to receive sheets from the host printer and deposit the sheets in offset sets. Similarly, an offsetting paper stacking device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,008 that automatically stacks sheets of paper into groups which are offset from each other. The paper is stacked in one pile; however, within that pile there are groups of sheets that are stacked at a sideways offset to the group immediately above and below. Accordingly, every other group of sheets of paper will be in line with each other and each adjacent group will be offset from each other. A drawback to sheet offset stackers of this type is that east insertion of pages into the offset stacks is not facilitated.

Some printers allow easy manual separation of copies or subsets in a job by alternating the position of the printed output a few millimeters back and forth between each copy or subset. This allows a person to grab the edge of a copy or subset with their finger and separate it from the rest of a stack of printed output. If one looks at the edge of a stack of printed copies or subsets jogged in this fashion, a square wave pattern will be seen. This is suitable for manually separating copies or subsets in a job, but if one wanted to insert pages, it is more awkward. The boundary between each copy or set is in a different position every time.

Accordingly, in answer to this problem and disclosed herein is a method of positioning copy or subsets for the easy insertion of pages thereinto that includes creating a shingled boundary between sets, with the top sheets of all sets in the same position, but with the rest of each set progressively offset so that the last page of the upper set is significantly offset from the top sheet of the next set in sawtooth fashion. Thus, the sets can then be separated from one side more easily and pages can be manually inserted with minimal difficulty.

Various of the above-mentioned and further features and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the specific apparatus and its operation or methods described in the example(s) below, and the claims. Thus, they will be better understood from this description of these specific embodiment(s), including the drawing figures (which are approximately to scale) wherein:

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a typical offset sheet stack;

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of a sawtooth jogged sheet stack;

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of a typical offset sheet stack showing the insertion of a tab into a subset of the stack; and

FIG. 4 is a frontal view of a sawtooth jogged sheet stack showing the insertion of a tab into a subset of the stack.

With initial reference to FIG. 1, a prior art copy/subset stack of sheets 10 is shown with a typical jog that alternates the position of the output by a few millimeters for each copy/subset and stacked first sheet face-down. In order to grab or manipulate an individual copy or subset, one would have to grab the bottom edge of the copy or subset on the side that it laps over. As seen in FIG. 1, one cannot grab the top copy/subset with a fingertip on this side since there is no edge to grasp. One would have to move to the other side of the stack to find an edge that can be snagged. However, in accordance with the present disclosure as shown in FIG. 2, a solution this problem includes providing a shingled boundary layer between all sets within stack 20, with the top sheet of all sets in the same position, but with the rest of each set progressively offset so that the last page of the upper set is significantly offset from the top sheet of the next set. This creates a sawtooth jog to each copy or subset which leaves an edge one can snag with a finger as shown for each copy or set on the same side of the stack.

FIG. 3 shows a conventional offset stacking of copy or subsets of sheets 10 and it can be seen that inserting a tab or divider 30 manually into the stack in the direction of arrow 32 can be very difficult. Only on every other copy/subset is there an edge one can snag in order to place a tab page under the individual subset. In FIG. 4, insertion of tabs or other stock 30 in the direction of arrow 32 under a subset is made easier by creating a sawtooth edge to each copy or subset with the top sheet of each subset in the same position and the remainder of each subset being progressively offset. As a result, the last page of the upper subset is offset from the top sheet of the next subset and thereby facilitating the separating of subsets from one side more easily and pages can be manually inserted with ease.

It should now be known that a method which, for example, could be incorporated in a print driver setting or at a multi-function device user interface, has been disclosed that enables a sawtooth shaped offset for multiple set stacks and thereby provides an ease of insertion of tabs or other stock into individual subsets of a stack of sheets. The sawtooth jog of each subset of the stack positions the last page of the upper set significantly offset from the first page or top sheet of the next set making the upper set quite accessible to lifting by one for placing a divider sheet between the last page of the upper and the first page or top sheet of the next set. Additionally, the sawtooth shaped offset of the subsets enhances one's ability to pick individual subsets away from a stack of subsets.

The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others. Unless specifically recited in a claim, steps or components of claims should not be implied or imported from the specification or any other claims as to any particular order, number, position, size, shape, angle, color, or material. 

1. A method for facilitating easy insertion of dividers between imaged sheet subsets of a sheet stack, comprising: a) providing a stack of imaged sheet subsets of a single print job; and b) creating a shingled boundary between each sheet of a subset of said imaged sheets such that the top sheets of all subsets are in the same position and the remaining sheets in each subset progressively offset so that a last page of an upper subset is offset from a top page of a next subset.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said shingled boundary between each subset of imaged sheets includes a protruding edge that is reinforced by a graduated edge of each sheet beneath it so that said protruding edge can not be easily wrinkled with handling.
 3. The method of claim 2, including positioning said protruding edge of each subset of imaged sheets on the same side of the sheet stack.
 4. The method of claim 3, including grasping said protruding edge of a subset of the sheet stack and lifting said protruding edge and placing a divider sheet between said protruding edge and a top sheet of the next subset of imaged sheets.
 5. The method of claim 1, including providing said shingled boundary between each subset of imaged sheets in a sawtooth configuration.
 6. A method for enabling sawtooth offset for multiple set stacks, comprising: a) providing at least one stack of sheet sets; and b) creating a shingled boundary between each set of sheets such that the top sheets of all sets are in the same position and the remaining sheets in each set are progressively offset, and wherein said progressive offset is continuous in order to add strength to each subset so that no individual sheet is left flapping.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said shingled boundary between each set of sheets includes a protruding edge.
 8. The method of claim 7, including positioning said protruding edge of each set of sheets on the same side of the sheet stack.
 9. An improved method for removing individual subsets of sheets from a stack of sheet subsets, comprising: a) providing a stack of sheet subsets for a single predetermined job; and b) creating a shingled boundary between each subset of sheets such that the top sheets of all subsets are in the same position and the remaining sheets in each subset progressively offset so that a bottom page of an upper subset is offset from a top page of a next subset.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said shingled boundary between each subset of imaged sheets includes a protruding edge.
 11. The method of claim 10, including positioning said protruding edge of each subset of sheets on the same side of the sheet stack.
 12. The method of claim 3, including grasping said protruding edge of a subset of the sheet stack and lifting said protruding edge in order to remove the subset from the sheet stack.
 13. (canceled)
 14. The method of claim 2, including lifting said protruding edge of a sheet subset and inserting a divider between said protruding edge and a top sheet of next sheet subset.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The method of claim 14, including inserting said divider underneath said protruding edge of said sheet subset and the top sheet in the next subset of sheets.
 17. The method of claim 3, including lifting said protruding edge of a sheet subset with a divider and inserting said divider between said protruding edge the sheet subset and the top sheet in the next sheet subset.
 18. The method of claim 3, including lifting said protruding edge of a sheet subset with a divider.
 19. The method of claim 18, including inserting said divider between said protruding edge of the sheet subset and the top sheet in the next sheet subset.
 20. The method of claim 9, including lifting said protruding edge of a sheet subset and removing said sheet subset from the sheet stack. 